US4805019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-contact apparatus and method for measuring the length of aluminum sheet and plate
Assignee: Reynolds Metals Co
•
Filing: 1987-09-10
•
Granted: 1989-02-14
•
Expires: 2007-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for measuring the length and/or width of a piece of material, such as hot aluminum plate. The apparatus has a measuring range defined by a plurality of cameras. A video screen is selectively connectable to the cameras to depict their viewing ranges. The apparatus, after an operator has aligned an indicator with a depicted edge of material, automatically calculates the distance of the depicted edge from a fixed point, such as the centerline of a shear.
Inventors
- 👤 William H. Holliday
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A non-contact length measuring apparatus for measuring a dimension of an elongate piece of material comprising: conveying means for positioning an edge of material to be measured within a measuring range of the apparatus; a plurality of cameras spaced from the conveying means, each camera being rigidly mounted in a fixed position and having a viewing range defining a portion of the measuring range of the apparatus; calibration means for calibrating the viewing range of each camera so that each viewing range covers a portion of the measuring range that has a known spatial relationship with a fixed point; display means for displaying any selected camera view which depicts at least a portion of the viewing range; edge detecting means operably associatable with said display means, said edge detecting means having indicator means for indicating on the display means the position of a displayed edge of a piece of material, and means for calculating the exact location of the edge with respect to the fixed point; and alignment means operable by an operator of the apparatus for aligning said indicator means of said edge detecting means with a displayed edge of a piece of material, the operator using said alignment means to align said indicator means with an edge of the material to be measured, said means for calculating using the position of the indicator means to determine the distance between the displayed edge and the fixed point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A non-contact length measuring apparatus for measuring a dimension of an elongate piece of material comprising: conveying means for positioning an edge of material to be measured within a measuring range of the apparatus; a plurality of cameras spaced from the conveying means, each camera being rigidly mounted in a fixed position and having a viewing range defining a portion of the measuring range of the apparatus; calibration means for calibrating the viewing range of each camera so that each viewing range covers a portion of the measuring range that has a known spatial relationship with a fixed point; display means for displaying any selected camera view which depicts at least a portion of the viewing range; edge detecting means operably associatable with said display means, said edge detecting means having indicator means for indicating on the display means the position of a displayed edge of a piece of material, and means for calculating the exact location of the edge with respect to the fixed point; and alignment means operable by an operator of the apparatus for aligning said indicator means of said edge detecting means with a displayed edge of a piece of material, the operator using said alignment means to align said indicator means with an edge of the material to be measured, said means for calculating using the position of the indicator means to determine the distance between the displayed edge and the fixed point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
221 words
A non-contact measuring apparatus for measuring an elongate piece of aluminum comprising: conveying means for positioning an edge of aluminum to be measured within a measuring range of the apparatus; a plurality of video cameras horizontally and vertically spaced from the conveying means, each camera having a viewing range defining a portion of the measuring range of the apparatus; calibration means for calibrating the viewing range of each camera so that each viewing range covers a known length portion of the viewing range that has a known spatial relationship with a fixed point; display means for displaying at least a portion of the viewing range of a selected camera; edge detecting means operably associatable with said display means, said edge detecting means having indicator means for indicating on the display means the position of an edge of a piece of aluminum, and means for calculating the exact location of the edge with respect to the fixed point; and alignment means operable by an operator of the apparatus for aligning said indicator means of said edge detecting means with a displayed edge of aluminum to be measured, the operator using said alignment means to align the indicator means with the edge, said calculating means using the position of the indicator means to determine the distance between the edge and the fixed point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
221 words
A non-contact measuring apparatus for measuring an elongate piece of aluminum comprising: conveying means for positioning an edge of aluminum to be measured within a measuring range of the apparatus; a plurality of video cameras horizontally and vertically spaced from the conveying means, each camera having a viewing range defining a portion of the measuring range of the apparatus; calibration means for calibrating the viewing range of each camera so that each viewing range covers a known length portion of the viewing range that has a known spatial relationship with a fixed point; display means for displaying at least a portion of the viewing range of a selected camera; edge detecting means operably associatable with said display means, said edge detecting means having indicator means for indicating on the display means the position of an edge of a piece of aluminum, and means for calculating the exact location of the edge with respect to the fixed point; and alignment means operable by an operator of the apparatus for aligning said indicator means of said edge detecting means with a displayed edge of aluminum to be measured, the operator using said alignment means to align the indicator means with the edge, said calculating means using the position of the indicator means to determine the distance between the edge and the fixed point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for mounting each of said cameras in a fixed position with respect to the conveying means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said calibration means includes a plurality of calibration points located along the the conveying means, each viewing range including at least one calibration point, each calibration point being located a known distance from the fixed point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least two of the viewing ranges of adjacent cameras overlap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the viewing ranges of adjacent cameras overlap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixed point is located within the measuring range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the measuring range is selected to be longer than the longest piece of aluminum to be measured.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display means comprises a video screen and means for selectively connecting one of said cameras to said video screen.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
191 words
A method using a non-contact measuring apparatus to measure a dimension of a piece of material, the apparatus having a plurality of cameras whose viewing ranges define the measuring range of the apparatus, each viewing range being calibrated to measure a known length portion of the measuring range having a known spatial relationship with a fixed point, means for displaying the viewing range of a selected camera, edge detecting means operably associatable with each camera and having indicator means for indicating the displayed edge of a piece of material and means for calculating the location of the edge with respect to the fixed point, and alignment means for moving the indicator means, said method comprising: positioning material to be measured within the measuring range of the apparatus, selecting one of said cameras having an edge of the material within its viewing range, connecting the selected camera to the display means, and using the alignment means to move the indicator means into alignment with the displayed edge of the material, the means for calculating determining the distance of the edge from the fixed point based on the position of the indicator means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
191 words
A method using a non-contact measuring apparatus to measure a dimension of a piece of material, the apparatus having a plurality of cameras whose viewing ranges define the measuring range of the apparatus, each viewing range being calibrated to measure a known length portion of the measuring range having a known spatial relationship with a fixed point, means for displaying the viewing range of a selected camera, edge detecting means operably associatable with each camera and having indicator means for indicating the displayed edge of a piece of material and means for calculating the location of the edge with respect to the fixed point, and alignment means for moving the indicator means, said method comprising: positioning material to be measured within the measuring range of the apparatus, selecting one of said cameras having an edge of the material within its viewing range, connecting the selected camera to the display means, and using the alignment means to move the indicator means into alignment with the displayed edge of the material, the means for calculating determining the distance of the edge from the fixed point based on the position of the indicator means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising manually manipulating the alignment means to move the indicator means into alignment with the displayed edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising placing one edge of the material to be measured at the fixed point and thereafter selecting the camera having the opposite edge of the material within the viewing range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning indicator means a desired distance from the fixed point, and moving an edge of the material into alignment with the indicator means to thereby position the edge or desired distance from the fixed point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU148529A1
Cited
US3428817A
Cited
US3676652A
Cited
GB1305152A
Cited
US3714393A
Cited
US4204224A
Cited
US4384303A
Cited
US4335439A
Cited
US4393401A
Cited
JPS57128809A
Cited
US4476533A
Cited
JPS5991586A
Cited
JPS60169704A
Cited
US4691231A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-14 | 1992-08-15 | 1993-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-14 | 1996-08-15 | 1997-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-14 | 2000-08-15 | 2001-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |